The majority of human service agencies today would be classified into which category on the continuum of cultural competence in agencies (developed by Cross et al.)?

• A. cultural incapacity
• B. cultural proficiency
• C. cultural pre-competence
• D. cultural competence

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how agencies move along a spectrum of cultural integration, from minimal or destructive attitudes to fully proactive, proficient practice. In Cross et al.’s continuum, many human service agencies have begun to recognize cultural differences and have started some steps—such as staff training, outreach efforts, and initial policy tweaks—but they haven’t yet embedded culturally competent practices throughout the organization or established systematic, ongoing improvements. That position is the pre-competence stage: awareness and some initial actions, with gaps in full integration, data-driven accountability, and sustained commitment. Because of this combination of recognition plus incomplete implementation, cultural pre-competence best describes where most agencies sit. Higher levels like cultural competence or cultural proficiency require more comprehensive, integrated changes and ongoing advancement, while cultural incapacity or destructiveness would imply far less awareness and effort.